The order came after Razak said that he and his family were planning a vacation abroad and were due to leave on Saturday.

Reacting to the order, he said in a tweet in Malay that he respects the decision by the Immigration Department of Malaysia and will remain with the family in the country.

Earlier, he had tweeted, "I pray that after this divisive period, the country will unite. I apologise for any shortcomings and mistakes, and I thank you, the people, for the opportunity to lead our great nation. It has been the honour of my lifetime to serve you and Malaysia."

Razak, who is facing corruption allegation, has been accused of embezzling funds amounting to USD 700 million.

However, the former head has unequivocally denied the claims and has also been cleared by investigating officers.

He has said that he will ensure a smooth transition and will serve the people of Malaysia in whatever capacity he can.

"My Barisan Nasional colleagues and I are committed to respecting the will of the people and facilitating a smooth transfer of power. The best interests of Malaysia and its people will always be my first priority and I intend to continue serving them in whatever capacity I can," Razak tweeted.

Mahathir, 92, created history after he was sworn-in as the oldest leader of a country.

A former head of the state, Mahathir ruled for two decades, before stepping down in 2003.

Image: twitter.com/NajibRazak